By Nick Eatman

While the Lone Star Conference is filled with quality head coaches, one of the best collegiate coaches of all-time was in attendance for Saturday's semifinal action at Bartlesville's Bruin Fieldhouse.

            Former Arkansas head coach Nolan Richardson, who led the Razorbacks to a 1994 national championship and three Final Fours, was on hand to check out his grandson and one of LSC's best overall players.

            Midwestern State guard Nolan Richardson IV, the South Division Player of the Year, didn't disappoint his granddad, scoring 25 points in MSU's semifinal win over Texas A&M-Kingsville.

            It was just the second time this season the elder Richardson has been in attendance to watch Nolan IV, who also goes by the nickname, "Bo." The former coach, who still lives in Fayetteville, Ark., made the trip over to Bartlesville before Saturday's game.

            Amid signing autographs for local fans and retelling old Arkansas stories, Richardson did get a chance to watch his grandson, something he said is a common, yet special treat.

             "I'm so proud of him. I've got five grandsons and two granddaughters and they all have played," Richardson said. "Of course, Bo has really shot to the top with his game. I couldn't be prouder when he completes his degree. But in terms of basketball, I always thought he would be a really good player. He was in every camp we've ever had. Basketball is all he's ever done. So I'm really proud of him and what has happened with him, especially this year."

            Richardson IV led the entire Lone Star Conference in scoring 20.7 points per game, but also led the league in free-throw percentage (.891).

            For the elder Richardson, who has been out of collegiate coaching since 2002, just being around the game is important to him. Richardson has had a couple of recent stints with international basketball, coaching the Panama national team and the Mexico national team. While he might not be actively looking for another coaching job, Richardson said he would listen if presented with an intriguing opportunity.

"I'm not really what you call looking," Richardson said. "I've been able to coach some national teams. That way, I stay connected to basketball. If something came up that fit what I like . . . I stay in pretty good shape, so I think I could still do some coaching. But I would have to find a place that really could reach the pinnacle. I don't want to just coach."

            Richardson obviously knows a thing or two about the pinnacle of college basketball. He is the only coach to win a JUCO national championship, a post-season N.I.T. tournament and a national championship in 1994.

            Just recently, that team was honored by the University of Arkansas at a recent game in Fayetteville. Not only was the 15^th Anniversary of the championship squad, but the reunion was the first time Richardson has been to a Razorback game since he left the school in 2002. Richardson said it was a "special, special moment" to see his players such as Corliss Williamson and Scotty Thurman once again.

            And then two days ago, Richardson had to miss his grandson's quarterfinal game in Bartlesville to attend a function that honored the 1990 Final Four team that included Todd Day, Oliver Miller and Lee Mayberry.

            "That was great. I got my 94 team back," Richardson said. "Some I hadn't seen in 15 years. Some I had. It's been a tremendous two weeks. Last week and this week, and now to watch my grandson play some basketball, it's been a whirlwind. But it's wonderful and it's what basketball is all about."

            And this time of year is also special to Richardson, who not only excelled in the national tournaments, but enjoyed winning the conference tournaments as well. Richardson led Arkansas to three straight Southwest Conference tournament titles from 1989-91 and also led the Razorbacks to an improbable 2000 SEC Tournament when his .500 squad won four games in four days to earn a berth to the NCAA tourney.

            "That's what it's all about. Each team gets to come to the tournament to see who's the champion," Richardson said. "It's great. To me, it's the beginning of March Madness. That's what a lot of young men dream of. It doesn't always matter what your record was. This is a new season and each time you advance, you go into a new season. Every game, is a season. That's the excitement of it."

            And while Richardson did his thing at the highest level of Division I, the coach said the level of play is insignificant when it comes to intensity of the game.

"Again, it doesn't matter what your division you're on," Richardson said. "Every game, it's same in Division I or Division II or III. A game is a game.  Game has no divisions. It doesn't matter where you are. It's all about competing."